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Things to do in New Orleans

Things to do in New Orleans

Join Us And Experience New Orleans At Its Finest

New Orleans is a city steeped in rich culture, history and tradition. Explore family-friendly attractions like the Audubon Zoo and visit world-class museums, including the National WWII Museum. Take a walking tour of the French Quarter, or venture just outside the city to experience history firsthand as you explore one of many Louisiana plantations that are open to visitors. New Orleans also offers plenty of great opportunities for shopping, dining, and nightlife. Book a room at Hotel Monteleone, and experience all that New Orleans has to offer.

NEW ORLEANS ATTRACTIONS

Don’t miss these popular tourist attractions in New Orleans

Audubon Zoo

The Audubon Zoo is one of the finest in the U.S. and houses more than 1,800 animals. Visitors will find not only exhibits like the Asian Domain (featuring animals like elephants, sun bears, and a white tiger) but also lush foliage and easy access to the Garden District.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

In 2014, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas acquired a sand tiger shark, adding to its large collection of aquatic species, which includes animals like sea turtles, sharks, jellyfish, and penguins. Attractions like a stingray touch-pool and the Aquarium Wild Walk series, held every Thursday through Sunday from January to May, delight guests and inform them about the array of life within our oceans.

Harrah’s New Orleans Casino

The South’s largest casino is located at the foot of Canal Street. The casino has five lavish New Orleans-themed areas comprising more than 1,800 slot machines and 113 table games; the hotel is 26 stories. Harrah’s also features Besh Steak restaurant, serving up decadent fare devoted to Louisiana traditions and flavors, plus several other restaurants like Gordon Biersch, Ruth’s Chris, and Grand Isle Seafood Restaurant.

New Orleans - A City Steeped in History

NEW ORLEANS MUSEUMS

Explore art, history and culture at these museums in New Orleans

Contemporary Arts Center

The CAC has been in the heart of the Warehouse District since 1976. It is the place to find new and exciting expression in the medium of painting, theater, music, performance art, dance, photography, video, sculpture and more in New Orleans. Address: 900 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: (504) 528-3805 Hours: Closed Tuesday / Wed. – Mon: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

New Orleans Museum of Art

At this stately museum in City Park, you’ll experience New Orleans’ oldest fine arts institution, which opened in 1911 and showcased just nine works of art. Fast forward more than 100 years, and NOMA plays host to a permanent collection of nearly 40,000 objects that include photography, glass works, French and American art, Japanese and African works, and much more. Exhibitions include work from famed artists such as Edgar Degas. Address: 1 Collins Diboll Circle, New Orleans, LA 70124 Phone: (504) 658-4100 Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Friday 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Closed Monday

Musee Conti Wax Museum

Come learn the story of historic New Orleans! The New Orleans Wax Museum recounts 300 years of history from the city’s founding to present day. Founded in 1963, this third-generation, family-owned-and-operated business is a New Orleans treasure chest of history, legend, and scandal. Address: 917 Conti Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 525-2605 Hours: Monday, Friday, and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Closed Mardi-Gras Day; special appointment for private parties, specialty tours and events.

National WWII Museum

From the beaches of Normandy to the sands of Iwo Jima, The National World War II Museum provides personal accounts, artifacts, documents, photographs, and never-before-seen film footage to tell the stories of the amphibious landings that made victory in World War II possible. Museum collections and relevant traveling exhibitions further explore and illustrate the war that changed the world. Address: 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: (504) 528-1944 Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily; closed Mardi Gras Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Ogden Museum of Art

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world. The museum is also home to the Center for Southern Craft and Design, featuring matchless glass, metal, jewelry, pottery, fabric and wood items – many available for purchase – by Southern artisans. Address: 925 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: (504) 539-9650 Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Homes

A visit to both the Hermann-Grima House and Gallier House will give you a glimpse into the elegant lifestyle of Creole families living in the French Quarter before the Civil War. While walking through these meticulously restored residences, you will also experience the Golden Age of New Orleans and gain an understanding of the era. Address: 820 St. Louis Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 525-5661 Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Sunday

Haunted History Walking Tours

Phone: (504) 861-2727 or (888) 644-6787 Haunted History Walking Tours specializes in ghost, voodoo, vampire, and cemetery tours of New Orleans. Haunted History Walking Tours offers the following New Orleans tours:

LOUISIANA PLANTATIONS

Learn About The Past At These Antebellum Mansions

Bocage Plantation

Built in 1837, Bocage Plantation is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has also been used as a Hollywood film set. Tours are by appointment only, although the plantation also serves as a bed and breakfast and venue for group functions and weddings. Located in Darrow, the plantation is just an hour drive from our hotel. Address: 39050 Highway 942, Darrow, LA 70725 – Map and DirectionsPhone: (225) 588-8000

Catalpa Plantation

Catalpa Plantation is one of the numerous late Victorian cottages found across Louisiana. Built in 1885 by the descendent of the current owners, the plantation grew cotton and sugarcane on its picturesque grounds. Open for tours by appointment. Address: 9508 US Highway 61, St. Francisville, LA 70775 – Map and DirectionsPhone: (225) 635-3372

Chretien Point Plantation

Chretien Plantation is linked to Jean Lafitte, the Battle of New Orleans, and the Civil War. There are also claims today that the legendary lady of the house, Felicite, still inhabits the home, built in 1835 on the banks of Bayou Borbeaux. Address: 665 Chretien Point Road, Sunset, LA 70584 – Map and DirectionsPhone: (337) 662-7050, toll free (800) 880-7050

Destrehan Plantation

After the discovery of an inexpensive method of granulating sugar, Destrehan Plantation began producing America’s “White Gold.” The plantation flourished, and the Destrehan family grew along with it. One of the oldest plantations in the area, Destrehan is also one of the closest – just a half hour drive from New Orleans. Address: 13034 River Road, Destrehan, LA 70047 – Map and DirectionsPhone: (985) 764-9315 toll free (877) 453-2095

Greenwood Plantation

Built in 1830, Greenwood Plantation is the largest plantation house in the Feliciana Parishes. The plantation is the work of William Ruffin Barrow, whose family may have built more plantations in Louisiana than any other single family. Address: 6838 Highland Road, St. Francisville, LA 70775 – Map and DirectionsPhone: (225) 655-4475, toll free (800) 259-4475

Hermitage Plantation

The Hermitage Plantation is the earliest known Greek revival mansion in Louisiana and was built in 1812 by Marius Pons Bringier as a wedding gift for his son, Michel. The plantation is named for his hero Andrew Jackson’s home in Nashville. Address: 38308 Hwy 942, Darrow, LA 70725 – Map and DirectionsPhone: (225) 473-1812

Houmas House Plantation and Gardens

First it was the happy hunting ground of the Houma Indians, who sold the land to French settlers in the mid 1700s. The Houmas House Plantation eventually encompassed a vast 300,000 acres, and by the late 1800s it was producing 20 million pounds of sugar per year, making it the largest source of sugar in Louisiana. Address: 942 River Road, Darrow, LA 70725 – Map and DirectionsPhone: (504) 523-2788

Nottoway Plantation Restaurant and Inn

Nottoway is the largest remaining antebellum mansion in the Southern United States and splendidly rests along Louisiana’s Great River Road in White Castle, the heart of Plantation Country. Address: 31025 Louisiana Highway 1, White Castle, LA 70788 – Map and DirectionsPhone: (225) 545-2730, toll free (866) LA-South (866) 527-6884

San Francisco Plantation

The San Francisco Plantation is a historic gem located on the Great Mississippi River Road. Dating all the way back to 1856, the plantation is a national landmark and the only authentically restored plantation in Louisiana. Rather than Greek Revival, San Francisco Plantation features Gothic architecture that conveys a sense of drama and opulence. Address: 2646 Highway 44, Garyville, LA 70051 – Map and DirectionsPhone: (985) 535-2341

Shop Til You Drop

NEW ORLEANS SHOPPING

Explore great shopping just steps away from Hotel Monteleone

French Market

Find New Orleans shopping, entertainment, and cuisine within the atmosphere of the country’s oldest public market founded in 1791. The French Market is a tradition as old as the city itself, located on the riverfront in New Orleans’ celebrated French Quarter. Address: 1235 North Peters Street, New Orleans, LA 70116 Phone: (504) 596-3420 Hours: Vary by vendor, but typically open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Royal Street

Famous for stores brimming with elegant antique furniture, décor and jewelry, Royal Street also provides a glimpse of quintessential French Quarter architecture. Art galleries, cafes, and live performers give the street a vibrant feel day or night. Hours: The street is closed to cars from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. to serve as a pedestrian mall.

The Shops at Jax Brewery

In a prime location near the river, this former brewery from the 1890s is now a haven for shopping. At Jax Brewery, visitors will find restaurants, stores, and proximity to several French Quarter attractions. Address: 600 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: (504) 566 – 7245 Hours: Daily from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

UAL United Apparel Liquidators

This boutique is brimming with brand-new designer finds – at 70 to 90 percent off the original prices. High-end designs from Chloe, Isabel Marant, and Lanvin are all here at UAL, as are affordable street labels like Splendid and Velvet. Jewelry, handbags, and shoes put the finishing touches on fashionable looks. Address: 518 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: (504) 301-4437 Hours: Daily from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

New Orleans Dining & Restaurants

New Orleans Restaurants

“New Orleans food is as delicious as the less criminal forms of sin.” ~ Mark Twain

New Orleans is famous for its cuisine, with good reason. Indulge and explore the many culinary offerings to be found, ranging from traditional Creole and Cajun cooking to multi-cultural influences like Vietnamese, West African and even Tiki-inspired cuisine. Delicious dining is just a few steps from your room at Hotel Monteleone’s very own Criollo Restaurant. Continue your exploration of some of the city’s best restaurants, and get a taste of what the Crescent City has to offer.

“I’m not sure, but I’m almost positive, that all music came from New Orleans.” ~ Ernie K Doe

House of Blues Featuring Southern-Inspired Delta Cuisine in a casual juke-joint setting. Visit the House of Blues website for a calendar of live music performances. Address: 225 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: (504) 310-4999

d.b.a. New Orleans Live music nearly every night of the week, in the heart of Frenchmen Street. Address: 618 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 70116 Phone: (504) 942-3731

GoNOLA.com

GoNOLA.com offers an insider’s look at all the best places to eat, drink, shop and play in New Orleans, including upcoming events and a weekly look at things to do in New Orleans this weekend.

Gambit

Gambit Magazine is a free, weekly news-magazine which can be readily found in coffee shops and restaurants around town. Gambit offers a local’s look at life in New Orleans, and features a full array of event listings each week. Gambit’s event calendar can also be viewed online.